How much do bartenders make in California?

The median wage for bartenders in California is $36,220 a year (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). There are about 71,470 jobs in the state.

Where in California do bartenders earn the most?

San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA has the highest median wage in the state for this occupation at $42,270 a year.

Checked Oct 23, 2026

Bartenders Salary in California

Bartenders in California earn a median $36,220 a year, 5% above the U.S. median.

Median in CA: $36,220 a year
U.S. median: $34,340 a year
Employment: 71,470
Location quotient: 0.81; Share of jobs vs. U.S. (1.00 = same)

Pay range in California

10%: $34,320Median: $36,22090%: $75,130

Median (50%): $36,220 · $17.41 an hour
Mean (average): $44,780 · $21.53 an hour (estimate error ±2.3%)
10th percentile: $34,320 · $16.50 an hour
25th percentile: $34,660 · $16.66 an hour
75th percentile: $40,990 · $19.71 an hour
90th percentile: $75,130 · $36.12 an hour
Employment: 71,470 (estimate error ±6.6%)
Jobs per 1,000: 3.92
Location quotient: 0.81 (1.00 = national share)

Bartenders pay by metro area in California

Includes metro areas that cross into this state and nonmetropolitan areas

Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.

Area	Median wage	Employment
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$42,270	2,790
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$39,670	10,260
Napa, CA	$37,790	580
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA	$37,680	1,310
Vallejo, CA	$36,870	450
Salinas, CA	$36,350	830
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	$36,260	8,740
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA	$36,100	560
Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area	$35,970	410
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA	$35,810	1,160
North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area	$35,670	530
North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area	$35,660	560
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA	$35,630	730
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA	$35,590	1,270
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	$35,510	25,260
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	$35,510	4,060
Hanford-Corcoran, CA	$35,240	130
Modesto, CA	$35,100	600
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	$34,840	6,360
Stockton-Lodi, CA	$34,770	740
Merced, CA	$34,680	180
El Centro, CA	$34,620	130
Bakersfield-Delano, CA	$34,320	830
Chico, CA	$34,320	390
Fresno, CA	$34,320	1,270
Redding, CA	$34,320	250
Visalia, CA	$34,320	420
Yuba City, CA	$34,320	170

Frequently asked questions

How much do bartenders make in California?: The median wage for bartenders in California is $36,220 a year (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). There are about 71,470 jobs in the state.
Where in California do bartenders earn the most?: San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA has the highest median wage in the state for this occupation at $42,270 a year.

Data sources

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

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More jobs data for this state

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